Inside the Star

Bench in honour of murdered Mississauga woman unveiled

The 2008 murder of Susan Ryan at the hands of her husband sent shockwaves through Mississauga. Now, five years later, friends and family unveil a bench in her honour in a place where she went to find peace.

Surrounded by her friends and family at the mouth of the Credit River, Susan Ryan's brothers and sister Steve Elkerton, left, Lynda McAuley and Peter Elkerton unveiled a bench dedicated Saturday to Ryan on the fifth anniversary of her murder.

Family and friends of a beloved Mississauga realtor, murdered five years ago, gathered at the mouth of the Credit River Saturday to unveil a bench in her honour.

Overlooking the waterfront at J.J. Plaus Park, the blue iron bench is a tribute to Susan Ryan, a woman who touched many lives in Mississauga until her tragic death in 2008, when her husband, a retired Toronto police officer, shot and killed her in their family home.

“This is really for Sue’s friends, and her colleagues,” said Stephen Elkerton, Ryan’s brother. “For them, this is a place to come and sit and have a little bit of time with her.”

Elkerton was on hand to speak Saturday morning at a ceremony commemorating the unveiling of the bench. It also marked the anniversary of Ryan’s 2008 murder.

Larry Ryan, the 57-year-old woman’s husband, is serving a life sentence in prison. He was about to go on a week-long hunting trip with a friend one Sunday morning. While Susan was making breakfast, Larry shot her twice in the head. He was convicted of second-degree murder in 2010 .

“When she was alive, she was very big-hearted and giving community activist. To have a bench, especially facing the lake, beautiful scenery, we think she would have wanted to have this to benefit people sitting on her bench,” said Angela Wong-Liao, one of the people responsible for organizing the bench project.

Wong-Liao, who also works in real estate, knew Susan for more than a decade. “For at least twelve years I witnessed all the contributions, her compassion and her love for this city and all the things she had done for this city. I admire her spirit and I loved her,” said Wong-Liao.